The Dallas Cowboys shocked the football world on Thursday by trading pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in a blockbuster deal. The Cowboys received two first-round picks and DT Kenny Clark in return for the three-time All-Pro LB, who will reportedly be rewarded with a four-year, $188 million deal, making him the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL.
Parsons, 26, had been holding out during training camp and preseason while seeking a new contract from Dallas. He eventually requested a trade if a deal couldn’t get done and now he heads to Green Bay to be the anchor of the defensive line for a Packers team looking to contend. Over four seasons in the NFL, the Penn State product has 52.5 sacks. In 13 games last season, he recorded 12 sacks.
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Fantasy D/ST rank before the trade |
Packers: 12th |
Cowboys: 20th |
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Fantasy D/ST rank after the trade |
Packers 8th |
Cowboys: 25th |
With the deal, it shifts the fantasy football D/ST rankings for Justin Boone enough to be noteworthy heading into the biggest draft weekend of the year. The Packers slide up four spots to No. 8 in Boone’s rankings going into Week 1 when they’ll host the Lions. Green Bay’s defense had been drafted in 15% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues (with an ADP of 139.3) before the trade, a figure that should go up and make them a popular waiver add.
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Meanwhile, the Cowboys slid down five spots to No. 25 following the deal. Dallas faces the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the opening game of the 2025 regular season. The Cowboys had been drafted in 16% of leagues with an ADP of 134.3, both of which will likely change in the aftermath of the trade. The deal could also mean the Cowboys will be chasing points more this season and result in more fantasy-friendly high-scoring games for CeeDee Lamb and Co.
Parsons will get a chance to play the Cowboys in Week 4, when Dallas will host Green Bay on Sunday Night Football.